Merida Initiative (illegal immigrants, law, Mexican border, Spanish)

[Rggr]

Are you aware that the US has allocated about $1.4 billion to help Mexico secure it's southern border? It's in the 2008 supplemental budget and is referred to as the Merida Initiative. I understand that helping them secure their border may help slow the flow of illegals from Central America, but shouldn't we be focused on our own border first?

[cousinsal]

Originally Posted by Rggr

Are you aware that the US has allocated about $1.4 billion to help Mexico secure it's southern border? It's in the 2008 supplemental budget and is referred to as the Merida Initiative. I understand that helping them secure their border may help slow the flow of illegals from Central America, but shouldn't we be focused on our own border first?

THAT would be really ironic - here, the American people, have been begging to close OUR border, and the money goes to MEXICO to close THEIR southern border?!!

We can't even get enough money for that durned fence!!

[DontH8Me]

Funny, you can re-arrange the letters of Merida to spell in Spanish what I think of this initiative.

[crittersitter]

Makes ya want to just beat your head against the wall. What country are we living in? Talk about a disconnect between we the people and DC.................

[Arizona Bound]

550 MILLION AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS! NOW WHY DO WE NOT HAVE
THAT FENCE BUILT AND "OUR" BORDER SECURED???????????


President Bush announced his request to fund a new security cooperation initiative with Mexico and the countries of Central America in order to combat the threats of drug trafficking, transnational crime, and terrorism in the Western Hemisphere. President Calderón of Mexico has taken decisive action to fight drug trafficking and criminal organizations operating on both sides of the border. The Presidents of Central America have clearly expressed the political resolve to join forces to strengthen regional security and seek additional tools and capacity to execute such will.
This partnership would support coordinated strategies to:

• Produce a safer and more secure hemisphere where criminal organizations no longer threaten governments and regional security; and
• Prevent the entry and spread of illicit drugs and transnational threats throughout the region and to the United States. To achieve these goals, President Bush has requested $550 million as part of a multi-year program to provide:
• Non-intrusive inspection equipment, ion scanners, canine units for Mexican customs, for the new federal police and for the military to interdict trafficked drugs, arms, cash and persons.
• Technologies to improve and secure communications systems to support collecting information as well as ensuring that vital information is accessible for criminal law enforcement.
• Technical advice and training to strengthen the institutions of justice – vetting for the new police force, case management software to track investigations through the system to trial, new offices of citizen complaints and professional responsibility, and establishing witness protection programs.
• Helicopters and surveillance aircraft to support interdiction activities and rapid operational response of law enforcement agencies in Mexico.
• Initial funding for security cooperation with Central America that responds directly to Central American leaders’ concerns over gangs, drugs, and arms articulated during July SICA meetings and the SICA Security Strategy.
• Includes equipment and assets to support counterpart security agencies inspecting and interdicting drugs, trafficked goods, people and other contraband as well as equipment, training and community action programs in Central American countries to implement anti-gang measures and expand the reach of these measures in the region.

In order to move forward on The Merida Initiative, the U.S. Government has requested its Congress approve $500 million for fiscal year 2008 to provide the additional funding necessary to reinforce the significant efforts that Mexico is currently undertaking with its own resources. This would be the first part of a multi-year funding request of $1.4 billion. In addition, the U.S. has requested an initial $50 million in fiscal year 2008 for Central American countries to bolster the efforts regionally.

LET MEXICO TAKE CARE OF THIER OWN FREAKIN PROBLEMS... ONCE AGAIN.. WE GET FOOTEN THE BILL!
SECURE "OUR" BORDER.. BUILD "OUR" FENCE AND TELL MEXICO TO GET LOST!

Why is it with mexicans it's always... GIVE ME, GIVE ME, GIVE ME!

[doily]

I think it's a good idea since most illegal immigrants that come from central/south america go through mexico to get to the usa. This would help.

[Rggr]

I agree that it might help, but I would think that our priority would be our border, then we could help Mexico resolve their problem.

[bbkaren]

I heard Calderon refuses to agree to conditions set forth to make sure the money is used for its intended purpose...

And, isn't the Mexican government controlled at least partly by drug cartels?

What would be their motivation to eliminate drug traffic?

And if we fenced off our US/Mexican border, it'd help as well because I'm sure a lot of the drug traffickers are going INTO Mexico, in order to cross INTO the USA.

If our fence were up, where would they sell the drugs, to the Mexicans?

[Rggr]

I agree. I have no faith that the money would be spent as intended.

[DontH8Me]

Originally Posted by bbkaren

I heard Calderon refuses to agree to conditions set forth to make sure the money is used for its intended purpose...

And, isn't the Mexican government controlled at least partly by drug cartels?

What would be their motivation to eliminate drug traffic?

And if we fenced off our US/Mexican border, it'd help as well because I'm sure a lot of the drug traffickers are going INTO Mexico, in order to cross INTO the USA.

If our fence were up, where would they sell the drugs, to the Mexicans?

We'll have none of that logical thinking around here!

/sarcasm off/